As we enter 2026, accelerating digital payments adoption remains a
\nnational priority, with intermittent connectivity persisting to be one of the most critical bottlenecks
\nlimiting scale and inclusion. While significant progress has been made in recent years, the inability to
\naccess stable internet or cellular coverage in many parts of the country continues to limit everyday
\ndigital transactions. Digital payments, in particular, remain elusive for millions of users and
\nbusinesses, specifically in rural, remote, and disaster-affected areas.
\nIn response to this challenge, Karandaaz Pakistan convened the final pitch round of the Offline
\nPayments Innovation Challenge, an extensive evaluation process to identify secure and scalable
\ndigital payment solutions leveraging Raast for environments with limited or no internet connectivity.
\nThe initiative marks a shift from problem recognition to solution development, bringing together
\ninnovators and ecosystem players to build practical, locally relevant technologies that can function
\nbeyond the constraints of always-on connectivity.
\nThe challenge attracted a strong response from across the financial ecosystem, with multiple high-
\nquality and innovative proposals received from startups, fintech, and technology innovators, of
\nwhich a select few were shortlisted for the pitch round. The participants presented their solutions
\nover two days to a six-member national and international judging panel comprising Ms Layanah Al-
\nWreikat, Director, JoPacc, Jordan; Ms Sabiha Ahmed, Private Sector Development Advisor, Foreign,
\nCommonwealth & Development Office; Mr Shauzab Ali, Principal Project Officer, Asian Development
\nBank; Mr Muhammad Imaduddin, Director, Digital Innovation & Settlement Department, State Bank
\nof Pakistan; Dr Zartash Afzal Uzmi, Professor and Lead, Center for Digital Assets Research, LUMS; and
\nMr Sharjeel Murtaza, Chief Digital Officer, Karandaaz Pakistan.
\nProposals were assessed against criteria including technical robustness, security and risk controls,
\nregulatory alignment, scalability, market relevance, and long-term sustainability. The solutions
\ndemonstrated strong potential to address connectivity challenges and enable secure digital
\npayments in low or no-connectivity environments. The proposals with the highest potential were
\nshortlisted for grant support, alongside technical and regulatory guidance, and opportunities for
\npilot implementation.
\nCommenting on the initiative, Mr Waqas ul Hasan, Chief Executive Officer, Karandaaz Pakistan, said:
\n\u201cDigital payments in Pakistan cannot assume perfect connectivity, as large parts of the
\ncountry operate in low- or no-connectivity environments. In line with the national
\nvision for a Cashless Pakistan, led by the Prime Minister, and the broader Digital
\nPakistan agenda, the Offline Payments Innovation Challenge encourages locally
\nrelevant solutions that are secure, scalable, and aligned with the regulatory framework,
\nwith the potential to expand access to digital financial services where it is needed
\nmost.\u201d
\nLooking ahead, initiatives such as the Offline Payments Innovation Challenge lay a sound foundation
\nfor addressing key constraints in the digital payments\u2019 ecosystem. By addressing the connectivity gap
\nhead-on, Karandaaz aims to spur adoption of digital payments leveraging Raast through cutting edge
\ninnovation leading to easy to use and affordable payment solutions that work in real-world
\nconditions across the country.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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